NRS 218E.405 Exercise
of powers and duties during legislative interim; performance of certain powers
and duties during regular or special session; subcommittee to review matters
involving State Public Works Division.

NRS 218E.005Definitions.As
used in NRS 218E.005 to 218E.095,
inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined
in NRS 218E.010 and 218E.012
have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

NRS 218E.012“Documentary evidence” defined.“Documentary
evidence” means any account, book, correspondence, file, message, paper, record
or other type of document in any form, including, without limitation, in any
written, audio, visual, digital or electronic form.

NRS 218E.015Power of Houses and committees to conduct investigations and hold
hearings.The Assembly, the Senate
and committees may conduct investigations and hold hearings regarding any
matter which is pertinent to their legislative business or possible future
legislative action.

1. The Assembly, the Senate and
committees, pursuant to their investigative powers, may issue legislative
subpoenas to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of documentary evidence that is pertinent to their legislative
business or possible future legislative action.

2. Legislative subpoenas may be issued by
the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, or the chair of a
committee in accordance with the rules governing the committee.

3. Except in cases of impeachment or
removal as provided by Article 7 of
the Constitution of the State of Nevada, a legislative subpoena must not be
issued to:

(a) The Governor or any of the Governor’s
immediate staff.

(b) Any justice of the Supreme Court, judge of
the Court of Appeals or judge of a district court.

NRS 218E.035Contents and service of subpoenas; legal force and effect.

1. To be properly issued, a legislative
subpoena must:

(a) Be addressed to the witness;

(b) Describe the nature of the legislative
proceedings for which the legislative subpoena is being issued;

(c) Require the attendance and testimony of the
witness at a definite time and place fixed in the legislative subpoena or
require the production of the documentary evidence at a definite time and place
fixed in the legislative subpoena, or both;

(d) State particular reasons why the attendance
and testimony of the witness or the production of the documentary evidence is
pertinent to legislative business or possible future legislative action; and

(e) Be signed, as applicable, by the President of
the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly or the chair of the committee who
issued the legislative subpoena.

2. A legislative subpoena may be served by
any person who is 18 years of age or older.

3. If a legislative subpoena is properly
issued to and served on a witness pursuant to this section:

(a) The legislative subpoena has the same legal
force and effect as a subpoena or order issued by the district court; and

(b) The witness shall comply with the provisions
of the legislative subpoena in the same manner as a subpoena or order issued by
the district court.

1. If a legislative subpoena is properly
issued to and served on a witness, the witness commits contempt if the witness,
without a reason recognized by law:

(a) Neglects or refuses to comply with the
provisions of the legislative subpoena;

(b) Neglects or refuses to be sworn or to affirm
before testifying or neglects or refuses to testify as to any relevant matter;
or

(c) Neglects or refuses to produce any relevant
documentary evidence in the possession or under the control of the witness.

2. In addition to any other remedies or
penalties provided by law, if a witness commits contempt, the district court of
any county shall, on application of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
the Assembly or the chair of the committee, compel the witness’s obedience by
proceedings for contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of
a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify therein.

NRS 218E.050Power of Houses to imprison for contempt; issuance and service
of citation for contempt.

1. If a witness commits contempt before:

(a) The Senate or the Assembly, any member of the
House may offer a resolution to have the recusant witness cited to show cause
why the witness should not be imprisoned for contempt.

(b) A committee while the Legislature is in
regular or special session, any member of the committee may offer a resolution
in the House of which the Legislator is a member to have the recusant witness
cited to show cause why the witness should not be imprisoned for contempt, but
only if the resolution is first approved by a majority vote of the committee.

2. If the resolution is adopted by the
House, the House shall issue a citation, signed by the presiding officer of the
House:

(a) Directing the recusant witness to appear
before the House at a time and place specified in the citation to show cause,
if any, why the witness should not be imprisoned for contempt; and

(b) Accompanied by a copy of the original
legislative subpoena if the recusant witness failed to appear, or stating
briefly the questions which the witness failed to answer or the documentary
evidence which the witness failed to produce.

3. The time and place stated in the
citation for the hearing must afford the recusant witness a reasonable
opportunity to prepare an appropriate defense.

4. The citation must be served personally
upon the recusant witness and may be served by any peace officer or by the
Sergeant at Arms or any regularly appointed Assistant Sergeant at Arms of the
House.

NRS 218E.060Arrest, fine and imprisonment upon finding of contempt; warrant.

1. If the House finds by resolution that
the recusant witness has in fact committed contempt:

(a) The House may require the witness to pay a
fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, as fixed by the resolution,
for each day the witness remains in contempt.

(b) The House shall issue a warrant for the
arrest of the witness if the House finds that the witness should be imprisoned.

2. A warrant issued for the arrest of the witness
pursuant to subsection 1 must:

(a) Be signed by the presiding officer;

(b) Be directed to the Sergeant at Arms or any
regularly appointed Assistant Sergeant at Arms of the House or any peace
officer; and

(c) Order the Sergeant at Arms, Assistant
Sergeant at Arms or peace officer to arrest the contemner and deliver the
contemner to the Sheriff of Carson City or a designated county for imprisonment
in the jail.

3. A copy of the warrant must be delivered
with the contemner to the designated sheriff and must fix the term of
imprisonment as:

(a) The remaining duration of the regular or
special session; or

(b) A specified term, unless the Legislature
adjourns sine die before the completion of that term.

4. The warrant may provide for the release
of the contemner before the expiration of the term of imprisonment if the
contemner testifies or produces evidence as originally required.

NRS 218E.065Imprisonment for contempt not bar to other proceedings.The imprisonment of a recusant witness for
contempt is not a bar to any other proceeding, civil or criminal, for the same
act.

(Added to NRS by 1973, 299) — (Substituted
in revision for NRS 218.534)

Hearings; Witnesses; Privileges; Unlawful Acts

NRS 218E.080Power of Houses to provide for hearings and proceedings;
unlawful for sworn witness to willfully misrepresent facts when testifying in
hearing or proceeding.

1. Each House may provide for hearings and
proceedings.

2. A person who appears and is sworn as a
witness before a House or committee for a hearing or proceeding and who
willfully misrepresents any fact when testifying in the hearing or proceeding
is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

NRS 218E.085Privilege regarding defamatory matter; unlawful for person to
knowingly misrepresent facts when testifying in hearing or proceeding or in
certain communications to Legislator.

1. A witness is absolutely privileged to
publish defamatory matter as part of a hearing or proceeding before a House or
committee in which the witness is testifying or in communications to a
Legislator preliminary to that hearing or proceeding, if the matter has some
relation to the hearing or proceeding.

2. A person who knowingly misrepresents
any fact when testifying in a hearing or proceeding before a House or committee
or in communications to a Legislator preliminary to that hearing or proceeding
is guilty of a misdemeanor.

NRS 218E.090Rules and privileges governing certain state employees who
testify on their own behalf; required disclosures; unlawful for state agency to
take certain actions because of such testimony.

1. An employee of a state agency who
testifies before a House or committee on the employee’s own behalf and not on
behalf of the state agency shall, before commencing such testimony, state that
fact clearly on the record.

2. It is unlawful for a state agency which
is the employer of an employee who complies with subsection 1 and testifies or
seeks to testify before a House or committee on the employee’s own behalf to:

(a) Deprive the employee of employment with the
state agency or to take any reprisal or retaliatory action against the employee
as a consequence of the testimony or potential testimony;

(b) Threaten the employee that the testimony or
potential testimony will result in the termination of employment with the state
agency or in any reprisal or retaliatory action against the employee; or

(c) Directly or indirectly intimidate, threaten,
coerce, command or influence or attempt to intimidate, threaten, coerce,
command or influence the employee in an effort to interfere with or prevent the
testimony of the employee.

3. It is unlawful for a state agency to:

(a) Deprive or threaten to deprive an employee of
employment with the state agency;

(b) Take or threaten to take any reprisal or
retaliatory action against the employee; or

1. “Committee” means the Legislative
Commission and any other legislative committee or subcommittee created by a
specific statute, concurrent resolution or order of the Legislative Commission
to conduct studies or investigations or perform any other legislative business
during the legislative interim.

2. The term does not include any
legislative committee or subcommittee appointed by the Legislature or either
House to conduct or perform legislative business during a regular or special
session, including, without limitation, any joint, standing, temporary, special
or select committee or committee of the whole.

NRS 218E.125Provisions supplement and do not impair other powers, privileges
and immunities.

1. The provisions of NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive, are intended to supplement the other provisions of this chapter and
any other law governing the legislative proceedings of a committee, and the
provisions of NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140, inclusive, do not limit the application of
such other provisions.

2. The powers, privileges and immunities
granted by the provisions of NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140, inclusive, are in addition to any other
powers, privileges and immunities recognized by law, and all such powers,
privileges and immunities are cumulative, so that the application or attempted
application of any one does not bar the application or attempted application of
any other.

1. A committee may conduct investigations
and hold hearings regarding any matter which is pertinent to its legislative
business or possible future legislative action and may exercise any of the
investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140, inclusive.

2. The secretary of the committee or any
member of the committee may administer oaths to witnesses who appear before the
committee.

3. The chair of the committee, or the
secretary of the committee on behalf of the chair, may cause the deposition of
witnesses to be taken, whether the witnesses reside within or without the
State, in the manner prescribed by court rules for taking depositions in civil
actions in the district court.

1. For the purposes of conducting
investigations and holding hearings in connection with the functions and duties
of a committee, the chair of the committee may issue legislative subpoenas to
compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of
documentary evidence that is pertinent to the committee’s legislative business
or possible future legislative action.

2. To be properly issued, a legislative
subpoena must:

(a) Be addressed to the witness;

(b) Describe the nature of the legislative
proceedings for which the legislative subpoena is being issued;

(c) Require the attendance and testimony of the
witness at a definite time and place fixed in the legislative subpoena or
require the production of the documentary evidence at a definite time and place
fixed in the legislative subpoena, or both;

(d) State particular reasons why the attendance
and testimony of the witness or the production of the documentary evidence is
pertinent to the committee’s legislative business or possible future
legislative action; and

(e) Be signed by the chair of the committee.

3. A legislative subpoena may be served by
any person who is 18 years of age or older.

4. If a legislative subpoena is properly
issued to and served on a witness pursuant to this section:

(a) The legislative subpoena has the same legal
force and effect as a subpoena or order issued by the district court; and

(b) The witness shall comply with the provisions
of the legislative subpoena in the same manner as a subpoena or order issued by
the district court.

5. In addition to any other remedies or
penalties provided by law, if a witness fails to comply with the provisions of
a legislative subpoena, the chair of the committee who issued the legislative
subpoena, or the secretary of the committee on behalf of the chair, may file a
petition to enforce compliance with the legislative subpoena in the district
court for any county where the committee regularly holds its meetings or where
the witness resides, works or maintains a place of business. The petition must:

(a) Set forth the name of the witness and, if the
witness is a custodian of documentary evidence, the name of the organization
for whom the witness serves as a custodian;

(b) Include a copy of the legislative subpoena;

(c) State that the legislative subpoena was
issued and served on the witness pursuant to this section and provided the
witness with notice of the definite time and place fixed in the legislative
subpoena for the attendance and testimony of the witness or the production of
the documentary evidence, or both;

(d) State that the witness failed to comply with
the provisions of the legislative subpoena; and

(e) Request an order of the court enforcing the
legislative subpoena and compelling the witness to comply with its provisions.

6. Upon the filing of the petition to
enforce compliance with the legislative subpoena, the court shall:

(a) Enter an order directing the witness to:

(1) Appear at a hearing before the court
at a time and place fixed by the court in the order, which must not be more
than 10 days after the date of the order; and

(2) Show cause why the witness has not
complied with the provisions of the legislative subpoena; and

(b) Serve a certified copy of the order upon the
witness.

7. If, at the hearing to show cause, the
court finds that the legislative subpoena was properly issued and served
pursuant to this section and that the witness has not proven a reason
recognized by law for the failure to comply with its provisions, the court
shall enter an order requiring the witness to comply with the provisions of the
legislative subpoena at a time and place fixed by the court in the order. If
the witness fails to comply with the court’s order, the witness commits
contempt of court and shall be punished as provided by law for such contempt of
court.

1. Each witness who appears and is prepared
to testify before a committee in compliance with a legislative subpoena, except
a state officer or employee, is entitled to receive for such attendance,
whether or not the witness testifies, the fees and mileage provided for
witnesses in civil cases in the district court.

2. The fees and mileage must be audited
and paid upon the presentation of proper claims sworn to by the witness and
approved by the chair of the committee.

1. There is hereby created in the
Legislative Counsel Bureau a Legislative Commission consisting of 12 members.

2. At each regular session:

(a) The Senate shall, by resolution, designate
six Senators as regular members of the Legislative Commission and six Senators
as alternates; and

(b) The Assembly shall, by resolution, designate
six members of the Assembly as regular members of the Legislative Commission
and six members of the Assembly as alternates.

3. The Legislature shall determine by a
joint rule at each regular session:

(a) The method of determining the majority party
and the minority party regular and alternate membership on the Legislative
Commission.

(b) The method of filling vacancies on the
Legislative Commission.

(c) The method of selecting the Chair.

(d) The term of office of the Chair.

4. The members of the Legislative
Commission serve until their successors are appointed by resolution as provided
in this section, except that the membership of any member who does not become a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection:

(a) Terminates on the day next after the general
election; and

(b) The vacancy must be filled as provided by the
joint rule adopted pursuant to subsection 3.

NRS 218E.160Compensation, allowances and expenses of members of Legislative
Commission and Audit Subcommittee.

1. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the
Legislative Commission or the Audit Subcommittee attends a meeting or is
otherwise engaged in the official business of the Legislative Counsel Bureau,
the member is entitled to receive:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

(a) Replaces a regular member at a meeting of the
Legislative Commission or on official business of the Legislative Counsel
Bureau is entitled to receive the same compensation, per diem allowances and
travel expenses as a regular member for the same service.

(b) Attends a meeting of the Legislative
Commission but does not replace a regular member is entitled to the travel
expenses provided pursuant to NRS
218A.655.

3. All such compensation, per diem
allowances and travel expenses must be paid from the Legislative Fund.

1. The general objectives and functions of
the Legislative Commission are to:

(a) Assist the Legislature in retaining status
coordinate with the Executive and Judicial Departments.

(b) Investigate and inquire into subjects upon
which the Legislature may act by the enactment or amendment of statutes,
governmental problems, important issues of public policy or questions of
statewide interest.

(c) Assure that the most effective use is made of
the audit, fiscal, legal and research services and facilities provided by the
Legislative Counsel Bureau to the Legislature and its members.

(d) Coordinate and oversee interim studies and
other legislative committees meeting in the interim between regular sessions.

2. In addition to the powers conferred and
duties imposed by this title or any law or resolution, the Legislative
Commission, in order to carry out its general objectives and functions:

(2) Any board, commission, department or
officer of the Executive or Judicial Department or any local government.

(b) May receive recommendations and suggestions
for legislation or investigation from:

(1) Bar associations, chambers of
commerce, labor unions and other organized associations and groups; and

(2) Individual citizens.

(c) May hold hearings on any subject or matter
which is a proper subject for legislative action or which concerns governmental
problems, important issues of public policy or questions of statewide interest,
whenever it considers such hearings necessary or desirable in the performance
of its duties or the exercise of its powers.

1. Carry forward the participation of the
State of Nevada as a member of the Council of State Governments and the
National Conference of State Legislatures, and may pay annual dues to those
organizations to the extent of legislative appropriation. The Legislative
Commission is designated as Nevada’s Commission on Interstate Cooperation.

2. Encourage and assist the government of
this State to develop and maintain friendly contact by correspondence, by
conference, and otherwise, with the other states, with the Federal Government
and with local units of government.

3. Establish such delegations and
committees as official agencies of the Legislative Counsel Bureau as may be
deemed advisable to confer with similar delegations and committees from other
states concerning problems of mutual interest. The membership of those
delegations and committees must be designated by the Legislative Commission and
may consist of Legislators and employees of the State other than members of the
Legislative Commission. For each day or portion of a day during which members
of those delegations and committees attend meetings or are otherwise engaged in
the business of those delegations and committees, the members:

(a) Shall serve without salary.

(b) Are entitled to receive out of the
Legislative Fund:

(1) The per diem allowance provided for
state officers and employees generally; and

4. Endeavor to advance cooperation between
this State and other units of government whenever it seems advisable to do so
by:

(a) Formulating proposals for interstate compacts
and reciprocal or uniform legislation; and

(b) Facilitating the adoption of uniform or
reciprocal administrative rules and regulations, informal cooperation of
governmental offices, personal cooperation among governmental officials and
employees, interchange and clearance of research and information and any other
suitable process.

5. Supervise the functions assigned to the
Divisions of the Legislative Counsel Bureau by this title or any law or
resolution.

6. Authorize the Director to enter into
agreements for the acquisition of property it deems necessary to support the
Legislature and its staff. The Director may expend money from the Legislative
Fund for this purpose.

1. In the discharge of any duty imposed or
power conferred by this title or any law or resolution, the Legislative
Commission may exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive.

2. The Legislative Commission may delegate
its authority pursuant to subsection 1 to a subcommittee or interim or special
committee established pursuant to NRS 218E.200.

NRS 218E.200Power to conduct studies and investigations; establishment of
subcommittees and interim or special committees; designation of members;
compensation, allowances and expenses of members.

1. The Legislative Commission may conduct
studies or investigations concerning governmental problems, important issues of
public policy or questions of statewide interest.

2. The Legislative Commission may
establish subcommittees and interim or special committees as official agencies
of the Legislative Counsel Bureau to conduct such studies or investigations or
otherwise to deal with such governmental problems, important issues of public
policy or questions of statewide interest. The subcommittees and interim or
special committees may exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive.

3. The membership of the subcommittees and
interim or special committees:

(a) Must be designated by the Legislative
Commission; and

(b) May consist of members of the Legislative
Commission and Legislators other than members of the Legislative Commission,
employees of the State of Nevada or citizens of the State of Nevada.

4. For each day or portion of a day during
which members of the subcommittees and interim or special committees who are
not Legislators attend meetings or are otherwise engaged in the business of the
subcommittees and interim or special committees, the members:

(a) Shall serve without salary.

(b) Are entitled to receive out of the
Legislative Fund the per diem allowances and travel expenses provided for state
officers and employees generally.

5. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which members of the
subcommittees and interim or special committees who are Legislators attend
meetings of the subcommittees and interim or special committees or are
otherwise engaged in the business of the subcommittees and interim or special
committees, the members are entitled to receive out of the Legislative Fund:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

NRS 218E.205Priorities and limitations concerning studies and
investigations; requests for drafting legislative measures; restrictions on
staff; review and approval of budgets; period for holding meetings.

1. Between regular sessions, the
Legislative Commission:

(a) Shall fix the work priority of all studies
and investigations assigned to it by a statute or concurrent resolution or
directed by an order of the Legislative Commission, within the limits of
available time, money and staff.

(b) Shall not make studies or investigations
directed by a resolution of only one House or studies or investigations
proposed but not approved during the preceding regular session.

2. All requests for the drafting of
legislative measures to be recommended as the result of a study or
investigation must be made in accordance with NRS 218D.160.

3. Except as otherwise provided by NRS 218E.210, between regular sessions, a study or
investigation may not be initiated or continued by the Fiscal Analysts, the
Legislative Auditor, the Legislative Counsel or the Research Director and their
staffs, except studies and investigations which have been specifically
authorized by a statute, concurrent resolution or order of the Legislative
Commission.

4. A study or investigation may not be
carried over from one regular session to the next without additional
authorization by a statute, concurrent resolution or order of the Legislative
Commission, except audits in progress whose carryover has been approved by the
Legislative Commission.

5. Except as otherwise provided by a
specific statute, the staff of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall not serve
as primary administrative or professional staff for a committee established by
a statute, concurrent resolution or order of the Legislative Commission to
conduct a study or investigation, unless the chair of the committee is required
by the statute, concurrent resolution or order of the Legislative Commission to
be a Legislator.

6. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program and any changes to the budget or work
program for each study or investigation conducted by the Legislative Commission
or a committee or subcommittee established by the Legislative Commission.

7. A committee or subcommittee established
to conduct a study or investigation assigned to the Legislative Commission by a
statute or concurrent resolution or directed by an order of the Legislative
Commission must, unless otherwise ordered by the Legislative Commission, meet
not earlier than January 1 of the even-numbered year and not later than June 30
of that year.

1. The Legislative Commission shall
establish a standing committee to consult with the Director concerning:

(a) The general management of the Legislative
Counsel Bureau;

(b) The organization and functioning of the
Legislative Counsel Bureau; and

(c) The necessary preparations for the ensuing
regular session.

2. The Committee shall meet with the
Director on or before July 1, September 1 and January 1 next preceding the
convening of each regular session, and at such other times as the Committee or
the Director may request.

3. The Committee shall also recommend to
the Legislative Commission any changes in the:

(a) Number or salary of employees in the Legislative
Counsel Bureau which it may find necessary to ensure the timely completion of
work required for the ensuing regular session; and

(b) Management of the workload of the Legislative
Counsel Bureau it may find necessary to ensure the completion of work required
for the ensuing regular session.

1. There is hereby created an Audit
Subcommittee of the Legislative Commission consisting of five members.

2. The Chair of the Legislative Commission
shall:

(a) Appoint the members of the Audit Subcommittee
from among the members of the Legislative Commission and the Interim Finance
Committee; and

(b) Designate one of the members of the Audit
Subcommittee as Chair.

3. The Chair of the Legislative Commission
shall designate five Legislators from among the members of the Legislative
Commission and the Interim Finance Committee to serve as alternates for the
members of the Audit Subcommittee.

4. The Legislative Auditor or a member of
the staff of the Audit Division appointed by the Legislative Auditor shall
serve as Secretary of the Audit Subcommittee.

5. The Audit Subcommittee shall meet at
the times and places specified by a call of the Chair.

6. Three members of the Audit Subcommittee
constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority
conferred on the Audit Subcommittee.

NRS 218E.270Special committee to receive Governor’s message on condition of
State.If the Governor elects to
communicate the message required pursuant to Section 10 of Article 5 of the
Nevada Constitution before the commencement of a regular session, the Chair of
the Legislative Commission may, on behalf of the Legislative Commission
pursuant to NRS 218E.200, appoint a special
committee to receive that message. A special committee appointed pursuant to
this section:

1. Must consist of all persons elected or
appointed to serve as Legislators during the next regular session.

2. Must be chaired by the Speaker
designate of the Assembly.

3. Shall receive the Governor’s message
and conclude its activities upon the completion of that message.

NRS 218E.275Special committees to consider issues during legislative
interim.The Legislative
Commission may, pursuant to NRS 218E.200, appoint
one or more special committees before the commencement of a regular session.
Each special committee appointed pursuant to this section:

1. Must consist of all persons designated
by the:

(a) Speaker designate of the Assembly to serve as
members of an Assembly Standing Committee, other than the Assembly Standing
Committee on Ways and Means, for the next regular session; or

(b) Majority Leader designate of the Senate to
serve as members of a Senate Standing Committee, other than the Senate Standing
Committee on Finance, for the next regular session.

2. May meet to consider issues that may
require consideration during the next regular session by the standing committee
upon which the members of the special committee have been designated to serve.

3. Shall conclude its activities before
the commencement of the next regular session.

1. The discharge of its duties to provide
for the prosecution of public offenses and the defense of indigent persons
charged with public offenses requires the collection of statistical information
upon the operation of the several district attorneys’ and public defenders’
offices which are reasonably accurate and are comparable from county to county.

2. There exists no agency outside the
Legislative Department which is appropriate for the collection of such
information.

NRS 218E.305Compilation of records and reports; limitations on use;
disclosure of information.

1. The Legislative Commission shall
prescribe by regulation:

(a) The kinds of records to be kept by each
district attorney and public defender for the information of the Legislature,
and may classify such requirements by population of the county if appropriate.

(b) The reports to be made of the contents of
such records, including the period to be covered and the date of submission of
each report.

2. Each report prescribed pursuant to this
section is for the use of the Legislature, the Legislative Commission and the
staff of the Legislative Counsel Bureau only. Statistical summaries may be
published, but information upon the qualifications or salary of any particular
person shall not be disclosed outside the Legislative Department.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 331) — (Substituted
in revision for NRS 218.5391)

1. There is hereby created in the
Legislative Counsel Bureau an Interim Finance Committee. Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the Interim Finance Committee is composed of the
members of the Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate
Standing Committee on Finance during the current or immediately preceding
regular session.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, the immediate past Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on
Finance is the Chair of the Interim Finance Committee for the period ending
with the convening of each even-numbered regular session. The immediate past
Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and Means is the Chair of the
Interim Finance Committee during the next legislative interim, and the position
of Chair alternates between the Houses according to this pattern. The term of
the Chair of the Interim Finance Committee terminates if a new Chair of the
Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and Means or the Senate Standing Committee
on Finance, as the case may be, is designated for the next regular session, in
which case that person so designated serves as the Chair of the Interim Finance
Committee until the convening of that regular session.

3. If any regular member of the Interim
Finance Committee informs the Secretary that the member will be unable to
attend a particular meeting, the Secretary shall notify the Speaker of the
Assembly or the Majority Leader of the Senate, as the case may be, to appoint
an alternate for that meeting from the same House and political party as the
absent member.

4. Except as otherwise provided in
subsection 5, the term of a member of the Interim Finance Committee expires
upon the convening of the next regular session unless the member is replaced by
the appointing authority. If the Speaker designate of the Assembly or the
Majority Leader designate of the Senate designates members of the Assembly
Standing Committee on Ways and Means or the Senate Standing Committee on
Finance, as applicable, for the next regular session, the designated members
become members of the Interim Finance Committee. A member may be reappointed.

5. The membership of any member who does
not become a candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection
terminates on the day next after the general election. The Speaker designate of
the Assembly or the Majority Leader designate of the Senate, as the case may
be, shall appoint an alternate to fill the vacancy on the Interim Finance
Committee. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each alternate
serves on the Interim Finance Committee:

(a) If the alternate is a member of the Assembly,
until the Speaker designate of the Assembly designates the members of the
Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and Means for the next regular session or
appoints a different alternate.

(b) If the alternate is a member of the Senate,
until the Majority Leader designate of the Senate designates the members of the
Senate Standing Committee on Finance for the next regular session or appoints a
different alternate.

6. The Director shall act as the Secretary
of the Interim Finance Committee.

7. A majority of the members of the
Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and Means and a majority of the members of
the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, jointly, may call a meeting of the
Interim Finance Committee if the Chair does not do so.

8. In all matters requiring action by the
Interim Finance Committee, the vote of the Assembly members and the Senate
members must be taken separately. No action may be taken unless it receives the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Assembly members and a majority of the
Senate members.

9. The Interim Finance Committee may
conduct investigations and hold hearings in connection with its functions and
duties and exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive.

10. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the Interim
Finance Committee and appointed alternate attends a meeting of the Interim
Finance Committee or is otherwise engaged in the business of the Interim
Finance Committee, the member or appointed alternate is entitled to receive:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

NRS 218E.405Exercise of powers and duties during legislative interim;
performance of certain powers and duties during regular or special session;
subcommittee to review matters involving State Public Works Division.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection
2, the Interim Finance Committee may exercise the powers conferred upon it by
law only when the Legislature is not in a regular or special session.

3. The Chair of the Interim Finance
Committee may appoint a subcommittee consisting of six members of the Committee
to review and make recommendations to the Committee on matters of the State
Public Works Division of the Department of Administration that require prior
approval of the Interim Finance Committee pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 341.126, NRS 341.142 and paragraph (f) of
subsection 1 of NRS 341.145. If the
Chair appoints such a subcommittee:

(a) The Chair shall designate one of the members
of the subcommittee to serve as the chair of the subcommittee;

(b) The subcommittee shall meet throughout the
year at the times and places specified by the call of the chair of the
subcommittee; and

(c) The Director or the Director’s designee shall
act as the nonvoting recording secretary of the subcommittee.

1. There is hereby created an Interim
Retirement and Benefits Committee of the Legislature to:

(a) Review the operation of the Public Employees’
Retirement System, the Judicial Retirement System established pursuant to chapter 1A of NRS and the Public Employees’
Benefits Program; and

(b) Make recommendations to the Public Employees’
Retirement Board and the Board of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, the
Legislative Commission and the Legislature.

2. The Interim Retirement and Benefits
Committee consists of six members appointed as follows:

(a) Three members of the Senate, one of whom is
the Chair of the Committee on Finance during the preceding regular session and
two of whom are appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.

(b) Three members of the Assembly, one of whom is
the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means during the preceding regular
session and two of whom are appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

3. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

4. The immediate past Chair of the Senate
Standing Committee on Finance is the Chair of the Interim Retirement and
Benefits Committee for the period ending with the convening of each
odd-numbered regular session. The immediate past Chair of the Assembly Standing
Committee on Ways and Means is the Chair of the Interim Retirement and Benefits
Committee during the next legislative interim, and the position of Chair
alternates between the Houses according to this pattern.

5. The Interim Retirement and Benefits
Committee may exercise the powers conferred on it by law only when the
Legislature is not in a regular or special session and shall meet at the call
of the Chair.

6. The Interim Retirement and Benefits
Committee may conduct investigations and hold hearings in connection with its
functions and duties and exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive.

7. The Director shall provide a Secretary
for the Interim Retirement and Benefits Committee.

8. For each day or portion of a day during
which members of the Interim Retirement and Benefits Committee attend a meeting
of the Interim Retirement and Benefits Committee or are otherwise engaged in
the business of the Interim Retirement and Benefits Committee, the members are
entitled to receive:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

Legislative Committees for the Fundamental Review of the
Base Budgets of State Agencies

NRS 218E.435“Committee” defined.As
used in NRS 218E.435 to 218E.450,
inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, “committee” means a
legislative committee for the fundamental review of the base budgets of state
agencies.

(a) The Legislature, by concurrent resolution,
during a regular session; or

(b) The Interim Finance Committee, by resolution,
while the Legislature is not in a regular session,

Ê determines
that the performance of a fundamental review of the base budget of a particular
agency is necessary, the Interim Finance Committee shall create a legislative
committee for the fundamental review of the base budgets of state agencies.

2. The Interim Finance Committee:

(a) May create more than one such committee if
the number of agencies designated for review warrants additional committees;
and

(b) If more than one such committee is created,
shall determine which agencies are to be reviewed by the respective committees.

3. For each such committee, the Interim
Finance Committee shall:

(a) Appoint all the members;

(b) Appoint an equal number of members from the
Senate and the Assembly;

(c) Appoint at least a majority of the members
from the Interim Finance Committee; and

(d) Designate the chair.

4. Any member of a committee who is not a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. Vacancies on a committee must be filled
in the same manner as original appointments.

6. A majority of the members appointed to
a committee constitutes a quorum.

7. The Director shall assign employees of
the Legislative Counsel Bureau to provide such technical, clerical and operational
assistance to a committee as the functions and operations of the committee may
require.

1. The members of a committee shall meet
throughout each year at the times and places specified by a call of the chair
or a majority of the committee. The Director or the Director’s designee shall
act as the nonvoting recording secretary.

2. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of a committee
attends a meeting of the committee or is otherwise engaged in the business of
the committee, the member is entitled to receive:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

NRS 218E.450General powers and duties; cooperation of state agencies;
reports.

1. A committee shall, during the
legislative interim, perform a fundamental review of the base budget of each
state agency assigned to it for review.

2. A committee may request the state
agency under review and any other agency to submit information, analyses and
reports which are pertinent to the reviews conducted pursuant to this section.
Each agency of the State shall cooperate fully and provide the material
requested within the period specified by a committee.

3. A committee may conduct investigations
and hold hearings in connection with the reviews conducted pursuant to this
section and exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive.

4. A committee shall, before the convening
of the next regular session, transmit a report of each review conducted
pursuant to this section, and any related recommendations, to the Interim
Finance Committee and the Legislative Commission.

1. Policies and issues relating to public
lands and state sovereignty as impaired by federal ownership of land are
matters of continuing concern to this State.

2. This concern necessarily includes an
awareness that all federal statutes, policies and regulations which affect the
management of public lands are likely to have extensive effects within the
State and must not be ignored or automatically dismissed as beyond the reach of
the state’s policymakers.

3. Experience with federal regulations
relating to public lands has demonstrated that the State of Nevada and its
citizens are subjected to regulations which sometimes are unreasonable,
arbitrary, beyond the intent of the Congress or the scope of the authority of
the agency adopting them and that as a result these regulations should be
subjected to legislative review and comment, and judicially tested where
appropriate, to protect the rights and interests of the State and its citizens.

4. Other western states where public lands
comprise a large proportion of the total area have shown an interest in matters
relating to public lands and those states, along with Nevada, have been
actively participating in cooperative efforts to acquire, evaluate and share
information and promote greater understanding of the issues. Since Nevada can
both contribute to and benefit from such interstate activities, it is
appropriate that a committee on matters relating to public lands be assigned
primary responsibility for participating in them.

(Added to NRS by 1979, 5; A 1983, 208) — (Substituted
in revision for NRS 218.536)

NRS 218E.505“Committee” defined.As
used in NRS 218E.500 to 218E.525,
inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, “Committee” means the
Legislative Committee on Public Lands.

1. There is hereby established a
Legislative Committee on Public Lands consisting of four members of the Senate,
four members of the Assembly and one elected officer representing the governing
body of a local political subdivision, appointed by the Legislative Commission
with appropriate regard for their experience with and knowledge of matters
relating to public lands. The members who are Legislators must be appointed to
provide representation from the various geographical regions of the State.

2. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

3. The members of the Committee shall
select a Chair from one House and a Vice Chair from the other House. Each Chair
and Vice Chair holds office for a term of 2 years commencing on July 1 of each
odd-numbered year. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chair or Vice Chair,
the members of the Committee shall select a replacement for the remainder of
the unexpired term.

4. Any member of the Committee who is not
a candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. Vacancies on the Committee must be
filled in the same manner as original appointments.

6. The Legislative Commission may appoint
alternates for members of the Committee. The Chair of the Committee:

(a) May designate an alternate appointed by the
Legislative Commission to serve in place of a regular member who is unable to
attend a meeting; and

(b) Shall appoint an alternate who is a member of
the same House and political party as the regular member to serve in place of
the regular member if one is available.

1. Except as otherwise ordered by the
Legislative Commission, the members of the Committee shall meet not earlier
than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and not later than August 31 of the
following even-numbered year at the times and places specified by a call of the
Chair or a majority of the Committee.

2. The Research Director or the Research
Director’s designee shall act as the nonvoting recording Secretary.

3. The Committee shall prescribe rules for
its own management and government.

4. Five members of the Committee
constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority
conferred on the Committee.

5. Except during a regular or special session,
for each day or portion of a day during which members of the Committee who are
Legislators attend a meeting of the Committee or are otherwise engaged in the
business of the Committee, the members are entitled to receive:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

6. All such compensation, per diem
allowances and travel expenses must be paid from the Legislative Fund.

7. The member of the Committee who
represents a local political subdivision is entitled to receive the subsistence
allowances and travel expenses provided by law for his or her position for each
day of attendance at a meeting of the Committee and while engaged in the
business of the Committee, to be paid by the local political subdivision.

(a) Review and comment on any administrative
policy, rule or regulation of the:

(1) Secretary of the Interior which
pertains to policy concerning or management of public lands under the control
of the Federal Government; and

(2) Secretary of Agriculture which
pertains to policy concerning or management of national forests;

(b) Conduct investigations and hold hearings in
connection with its review, including, but not limited to, investigating the
effect on the State, its citizens, political subdivisions, businesses and
industries of those policies, rules, regulations and related laws, and exercise
any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS
218E.105 to 218E.140, inclusive;

(c) Consult with and advise the State Land Use
Planning Agency on matters concerning federal land use, policies and activities
in this State;

(d) Direct the Legislative Counsel Bureau to
assist in its research, investigations, review and comment;

(e) Recommend to the Legislature as a result of
its review any appropriate state legislation or corrective federal legislation;

(f) Advise the Attorney General if it believes
that any federal policy, rule or regulation which it has reviewed encroaches on
the sovereignty respecting land or water or their use which has been reserved
to the State pursuant to the Constitution of the United States;

(g) Enter into a contract for consulting services
for land planning and any other related activities, including, but not limited
to:

(1) Advising the Committee and the State
Land Use Planning Agency concerning the revision of the plans pursuant to NRS 321.7355;

(2) Assisting local governments in the
identification of lands administered by the Federal Government in this State
which are needed for residential or economic development or any other purpose;
and

(3) Assisting local governments in the
acquisition of federal lands in this State;

(h) Apply for any available grants and accept any
gifts, grants or donations to assist the Committee in carrying out its duties;
and

(i) Review and comment on any other matter
relating to the preservation, conservation, use, management or disposal of
public lands deemed appropriate by the Chair of the Committee or by a majority
of the members of the Committee.

2. Any reference in this section to
federal policies, rules, regulations and related federal laws includes those
which are proposed as well as those which are enacted or adopted.

(a) Actively support the efforts of state and
local governments in the western states regarding public lands and state
sovereignty as impaired by federal ownership of land.

(b) Advance knowledge and understanding in local,
regional and national forums of Nevada’s unique situation with respect to
public lands.

(c) Support legislation that will enhance state
and local roles in the management of public lands and will increase the
disposal of public lands.

2. The Committee:

(a) Shall review the programs and activities of:

(1) The Colorado River Commission of
Nevada;

(2) All public water authorities,
districts and systems in the State of Nevada, including, without limitation,
the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the
Virgin Valley Water District, the Carson Water Subconservancy District, the
Humboldt River Basin Water Authority and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation
District; and

(3) All other public or private entities
with which any county in the State has an agreement regarding the planning,
development or distribution of water resources, or any combination thereof;

(b) Shall, on or before January 15 of each
odd-numbered year, submit to the Director for transmittal to the Legislature a
report concerning the review conducted pursuant to paragraph (a); and

(c) May review and comment on other issues
relating to water resources in this State, including, without limitation:

(1) The laws, regulations and policies
regulating the use, allocation and management of water in this State; and

(2) The status of existing information and
studies relating to water use, surface water resources and groundwater
resources in this State.

Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of the
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System

NRS 218E.550“Committee” defined.As
used in NRS 218E.550 to 218E.570,
inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, “Committee” means the
Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional
Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System created by NRS 218E.555.

1. There is hereby created the Legislative
Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
and the Marlette Lake Water System consisting of three members of the Senate
and three members of the Assembly, appointed by the Legislative Commission with
appropriate regard for their experience with and knowledge of matters relating
to the management of natural resources. The members must be appointed to
provide representation from the various geographical regions of the State.

2. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

3. The members of the Committee shall
elect a Chair from one House and a Vice Chair from the other House. Each Chair
and Vice Chair holds office for a term of 2 years commencing on July 1 of each
odd-numbered year.

4. Any member of the Committee who is not
a candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. Vacancies on the Committee must be
filled in the same manner as original appointments.

6. The Committee shall report annually to
the Legislative Commission concerning its activities and any recommendations.

1. Except as otherwise ordered by the
Legislative Commission, the members of the Committee shall meet not earlier
than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and not later than August 31 of the
following even-numbered year at the times and places specified by a call of the
Chair or a majority of the Committee.

2. The Director or the Director’s designee
shall act as the nonvoting recording Secretary.

3. The Committee shall adopt rules for its
own management and government.

4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection
5, four members of the Committee constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise
all the power and authority conferred on the Committee.

5. Any recommended legislation proposed by
the Committee must be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate and
by a majority of the members of the Assembly appointed to the Committee.

6. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the
Committee attends a meeting or is otherwise engaged in the business of the
Committee, the member is entitled to receive:

(a) The compensation provided for a majority of
the Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) The per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

1. Provide appropriate review and
oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water
System;

2. Review the budget, programs,
activities, responsiveness and accountability of the Tahoe Regional Planning
Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System in such a manner as deemed necessary
and appropriate by the Committee;

1. Conduct investigations and hold
hearings in connection with its review and study and exercise any of the
investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140, inclusive;

2. Apply for any available grants and
accept any gifts, grants or donations and use any such gifts, grants or
donations to aid the Committee in carrying out its duties pursuant to NRS 218E.550 to 218E.570,
inclusive;

3. Direct the Legislative Counsel Bureau
to assist in its research, investigations, review and study; and

4. Recommend to the Legislature, as a
result of its review and study, any appropriate legislation.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 1775) — (Substituted
in revision for NRS 218.5351)

NRS 218E.605Creation; membership; budget; officers; terms; vacancies.

1. The Legislative Committee on Education,
consisting of eight legislative members, is hereby created. The membership of
the Committee consists of:

(a) Four members appointed by the Majority Leader
of the Senate, at least one of whom must be a member of the minority political
party.

(b) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly, at least one of whom must be a member of the minority political
party.

2. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

3. The Legislative Commission shall select
the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee from among the members of the
Committee. Each Chair and Vice Chair holds office for a term of 2 years
commencing on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. The office of Chair of the
Committee must alternate each biennium between the Houses. If a vacancy occurs
in the office of Chair or Vice Chair, the vacancy must be filled in the same
manner as the original selection for the remainder of the unexpired term.

4. A member of the Committee who is not a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. A vacancy on the Committee must be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the
unexpired term.

1. Except as otherwise ordered by the
Legislative Commission, the members of the Committee shall meet not earlier
than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and not later than August 31 of the
following even-numbered year at the times and places specified by a call of the
Chair or a majority of the Committee.

2. The Director or the Director’s designee
shall act as the nonvoting recording Secretary of the Committee.

3. Five members of the Committee
constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority
conferred on the Committee.

4. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the
Committee attends a meeting of the Committee or is otherwise engaged in the
business of the Committee, the member is entitled to receive the:

(a) Compensation provided for a majority of the
Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) Per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and
Program Evaluation

NRS 218E.625Creation; personnel; general powers and duties; confidentiality
of certain information. [Effective through June 30, 2016.]

1. The
Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation is
hereby created within the Fiscal Analysis Division. The Fiscal Analysts shall
appoint to the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program
Evaluation a Chief and such other personnel as the Fiscal Analysts determine
are necessary for the Bureau to carry out its duties pursuant to this section.

2. The Bureau shall, as the Fiscal Analysts
determine is necessary or at the request of the Committee:

(a) Collect and analyze data and issue written
reports concerning:

(1) The effectiveness of the provisions of
chapter 385A of NRS in improving the
accountability of the schools of this State;

(2) The statewide program to reduce the
ratio of pupils per class per licensed teacher prescribed in NRS 388.700, 388.710 and 388.720;

(3) The statewide program to educate
persons with disabilities that is set forth in NRS 388.5211 to 388.5243, inclusive;

(4) The results of the examinations of the
National Assessment of Educational Progress that are administered pursuant to NRS 390.830; and

(5) Any program or legislative measure,
the purpose of which is to reform the system of education within this State.

(b) Conduct studies and analyses to evaluate the
performance and progress of the system of public education within this State.
Such studies and analyses may be conducted:

(1) As the Fiscal Analysts determine are
necessary; or

(2) At the request of the Legislature.

Ê This
paragraph does not prohibit the Bureau from contracting with a person or entity
to conduct studies and analyses on behalf of the Bureau.

(c) On or before October 1 of each even-numbered
year, submit a written report of its findings pursuant to paragraphs (a) and
(b) to the Director for transmission to the next regular session. The Bureau
shall, on or before October 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a written
report of its findings pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) to the Director for
transmission to the Legislative Commission and to the Legislative Committee on
Education.

3. The Bureau may, pursuant to NRS 218F.620, require a school, a school
district, the Nevada System of Higher Education or the Department of Education
to submit to the Bureau books, papers, records and other information that the
Chief of the Bureau determines are necessary to carry out the duties of the
Bureau pursuant to this section. An entity whom the Bureau requests to produce
records or other information shall provide the records or other information in
any readily available format specified by the Bureau.

4. Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection and NRS 239.0115, any
information obtained by the Bureau pursuant to this section shall be deemed a
work product that is confidential pursuant to NRS 218F.150. The Bureau may, at the
discretion of the Chief and after submission to the Legislature or Legislative
Commission, as appropriate, publish reports of its findings pursuant to
paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection 2.

5. This section does not prohibit the
Department of Education or the State Board of Education from conducting
analyses, submitting reports or otherwise reviewing educational programs in
this State.

1. The
Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation is
hereby created within the Fiscal Analysis Division. The Fiscal Analysts shall
appoint to the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program
Evaluation a Chief and such other personnel as the Fiscal Analysts determine
are necessary for the Bureau to carry out its duties pursuant to this section.

2. The Bureau shall, as the Fiscal
Analysts determine is necessary or at the request of the Committee:

(a) Collect and analyze data and issue written
reports concerning:

(1) The effectiveness of the provisions of
chapter 385A of NRS in improving the
accountability of the schools of this State;

(2) The statewide program to reduce the
ratio of pupils per class per licensed teacher prescribed in NRS 388.700, 388.710 and 388.720;

(3) The statewide program to educate
persons with disabilities that is set forth in NRS 388.5223 to 388.5243, inclusive;

(4) The results of the examinations of the
National Assessment of Educational Progress that are administered pursuant to NRS 390.830; and

(5) Any program or legislative measure,
the purpose of which is to reform the system of education within this State.

(b) Conduct studies and analyses to evaluate the
performance and progress of the system of public education within this State.
Such studies and analyses may be conducted:

(1) As the Fiscal Analysts determine are
necessary; or

(2) At the request of the Legislature.

Ê This paragraph
does not prohibit the Bureau from contracting with a person or entity to
conduct studies and analyses on behalf of the Bureau.

(c) On or before October 1 of each even-numbered
year, submit a written report of its findings pursuant to paragraphs (a) and
(b) to the Director for transmission to the next regular session. The Bureau
shall, on or before October 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a written
report of its findings pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) to the Director for
transmission to the Legislative Commission and to the Legislative Committee on
Education.

3. The Bureau may, pursuant to NRS 218F.620, require a school, a school
district, the Nevada System of Higher Education or the Department of Education
to submit to the Bureau books, papers, records and other information that the
Chief of the Bureau determines are necessary to carry out the duties of the
Bureau pursuant to this section. An entity whom the Bureau requests to produce
records or other information shall provide the records or other information in
any readily available format specified by the Bureau.

4. Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection and NRS 239.0115, any
information obtained by the Bureau pursuant to this section shall be deemed a
work product that is confidential pursuant to NRS 218F.150. The Bureau may, at the
discretion of the Chief and after submission to the Legislature or Legislative
Commission, as appropriate, publish reports of its findings pursuant to
paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection 2.

5. This section does not prohibit the
Department of Education or the State Board of Education from conducting
analyses, submitting reports or otherwise reviewing educational programs in
this State.

1. The Legislative Committee on Child
Welfare and Juvenile Justice is hereby created. The membership of the Committee
consists of three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly,
appointed by the Legislative Commission.

2. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

3. The Legislative Commission shall select
the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee from among the members of the
Committee. After the initial selection, each Chair and Vice Chair holds office
for a term of 2 years commencing on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. The
office of Chair of the Committee must alternate each biennium between the
Houses. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chair or Vice Chair, the vacancy
must be filled in the same manner as the original selection for the remainder
of the unexpired term.

4. A member of the Committee who is not a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. A vacancy on the Committee must be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the
unexpired term.

1. Except as otherwise ordered by the
Legislative Commission, the members of the Committee shall meet not earlier
than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and not later than August 31 of the
following even-numbered year at the times and places specified by a call of the
Chair or a majority of the Committee.

2. The Director or the Director’s designee
shall act as the nonvoting recording Secretary of the Committee.

3. Four members of the Committee
constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority
conferred on the Committee.

4. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the
Committee attends a meeting of the Committee or is otherwise engaged in the
business of the Committee, the member is entitled to receive the:

(a) Compensation provided for a majority of the
Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) Per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

1. The provision of child welfare services
in this State, including, without limitation:

(a) Programs for the provision of child welfare
services;

(b) Licensing and reimbursement of providers of foster
care;

(c) The provision of foster care, including,
without limitation, reunification of foster children with a birth parent and
adoption of foster children by a foster parent;

(d) Mental health services; and

(e) Compliance with federal requirements
regarding child welfare; and

2. Juvenile justice in this State,
including, without limitation:

(a) The coordinated continuum of care in which
community-based programs and services are combined to ensure that health
services, substance abuse treatment, education, training and care are
compatible with the needs of each juvenile in the juvenile justice system;

(b) Individualized supervision, care and
treatment to accommodate the individual needs and potential of the juvenile and
the juvenile’s family, and treatment programs which integrate the juvenile into
situations of living and interacting that are compatible with a healthy, stable
and familial environment;

(c) Programs for aftercare and reintegration in
which juveniles will continue to receive treatment after their active
rehabilitation in a facility to prevent the relapse or regression of progress
achieved during the recovery process;

(d) Overrepresentation and disparate treatment of
minorities in the juvenile justice system, including, without limitation, a
review of the various places where bias may influence decisions concerning
minorities;

(e) Gender-specific services, including, without
limitation, programs for female juvenile offenders which consider female
development in their design and implementation and which address the needs of
females, including issues relating to:

(1) Victimization and abuse;

(2) Substance abuse;

(3) Mental health;

(4) Education; and

(5) Vocational and skills training;

(f) The quality of care provided for juvenile
offenders in state institutions and facilities, including, without limitation:

(1) The qualifications and training of
staff;

(2) The documentation of the performance
of state institutions and facilities;

(a) Conduct investigations and hold hearings in
connection with its duties pursuant to NRS 218E.715
and exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive;

(b) Request that the Legislative Counsel Bureau
assist in the research, investigations, hearings and reviews of the Committee;
and

(c) Propose recommended legislation concerning
child welfare and juvenile justice to the Legislature including, without
limitation, recommended legislation concerning the provision of foster care as
described in paragraph (c) of subsection 1 of NRS
218E.715.

2. The Committee shall, on or before
January 15 of each odd-numbered year, submit to the Director for transmittal to
the Legislature a report concerning the evaluation and review conducted
pursuant to NRS 218E.715.

1. The Legislative Committee on Senior
Citizens, Veterans and Adults With Special Needs, consisting of six members, is
hereby created. The membership of the Committee consists of:

(a) Three members of the Senate appointed by the
Majority Leader of the Senate, at least one of whom must be a member of the
minority political party; and

(b) Three members of the Assembly appointed by
the Speaker of the Assembly, at least one of whom must be a member of the
minority political party.

2. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

3. The Legislative Commission shall select
the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee from among the members of the
Committee. After the initial selection, each Chair and Vice Chair holds office
for a term of 2 years commencing on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. The
office of Chair of the Committee must alternate each biennium between the
Houses. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chair or Vice Chair, the vacancy
must be filled in the same manner as the original selection for the remainder
of the unexpired term.

4. A member of the Committee who is not a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. A vacancy on the Committee must be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the
unexpired term.

1. Except as otherwise ordered by the
Legislative Commission, the members of the Committee shall meet not earlier
than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and not later than August 31 of the
following even-numbered year at the times and places specified by a call of the
Chair or by a majority of the Committee.

2. The Director or the Director’s designee
shall act as the nonvoting recording Secretary of the Committee.

3. Four members of the Committee
constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority
conferred on the Committee.

4. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the
Committee attends a meeting of the Committee or is otherwise engaged in the
business of the Committee, the member is entitled to receive the:

(a) Compensation provided for a majority of the
Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) Per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

1. The Committee may review, study and
comment upon issues relating to senior citizens, veterans and adults with
special needs, including, without limitation:

(a) Initiatives to ensure the financial and
physical wellness of senior citizens, veterans and adults with special needs;

(b) The abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation
and abandonment of senior citizens and adults with special needs;

(c) Public outreach and advocacy;

(d) Programs for the provision of services to
senior citizens, veterans and adults with special needs in this State and
methods to enhance such programs to ensure that services are provided in the
most appropriate setting;

(e) Programs that provide services and care in
the home which allow senior citizens to remain at home and live independently
instead of in institutional care;

(f) The availability of useful information and
data as needed for the State of Nevada to effectively make decisions, plan
budgets and monitor costs and outcomes of services provided to senior citizens,
veterans and adults with special needs;

(g) Laws relating to the appointment of a
guardian and the improvement of laws for the protection of senior citizens and
adults with special needs who have been appointed a guardian, including,
without limitation, the improvement of investigations relating to guardianships
and systems for monitoring guardianships; and

(h) The improvement of facilities for long-term
care in this State, including, without limitation:

(1) Reducing the number of persons placed
in facilities for long-term care located outside this State;

(3) Developing alternatives to placement
in facilities for long-term care, including, without limitation, units for
long-term care located in other types of facilities, and ensuring that such
alternatives are available throughout this State for the treatment of persons
with psychological needs; and

(4) Creating a program to provide
follow-up care and to track the ongoing progress of residents of facilities for
long-term care.

2. The Committee may:

(a) Review, study and comment upon matters
relating to senior citizens, veterans and adults with special needs;

(b) Conduct investigations and hold hearings in
connection with its duties pursuant to this section and exercise any of the
investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140, inclusive;

(c) Request that the Legislative Counsel Bureau
assist in the research, investigations, hearings and studies of the Committee;
and

(d) Make recommendations to the Legislature
concerning senior citizens, veterans and adults with special needs.

3. The Committee shall, on or before
January 15 of each odd-numbered year, submit to the Director for transmittal to
the next regular session a report concerning the study conducted pursuant to
subsection 1.

4. As used in this section, “facility for
long-term care” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 427A.028.

1. The Legislative Committee on Energy,
consisting of six legislative members, is hereby created. The membership of the
Committee consists of:

(a) Three members appointed by the Majority
Leader of the Senate, at least one of whom must be a member of the minority
political party.

(b) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly, at least one of whom must be a member of the minority political
party.

2. The Legislative Commission shall review
and approve the budget and work program for the Committee and any changes to
the budget or work program.

3. The Legislative Commission shall select
the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee from among the members of the
Committee. Each Chair and Vice Chair holds office for a term of 2 years
commencing on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. The office of Chair of the
Committee must alternate each biennium between the Houses. If a vacancy occurs
in the office of Chair or Vice Chair, the vacancy must be filled in the same
manner as the original selection for the remainder of the unexpired term.

4. A member of the Committee who is not a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve
after the general election until the next regular or special session convenes.

5. A vacancy on the Committee must be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the
unexpired term.

1. Except as otherwise ordered by the
Legislative Commission, the members of the Committee shall meet not earlier
than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and not later than August 31 of the
following even-numbered year at the times and places specified by a call of the
Chair or a majority of the Committee.

2. The Director or the Director’s designee
shall act as the nonvoting recording Secretary of the Committee.

3. Four members of the Committee constitute
a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority conferred on
the Committee.

4. Except during a regular or special
session, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the
Committee attends a meeting of the Committee or is otherwise engaged in the
business of the Committee, the member is entitled to receive the:

(a) Compensation provided for a majority of the
Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular session;

(b) Per diem allowance provided for state
officers and employees generally; and

1. Developing sustainable and reliable
energy efficiency programs is critical to the future of Nevada’s economy and
competitiveness;

2. Energy production and energy efficiency
programs in Nevada should be diverse, stable, affordable, technologically
advanced and environmentally sound;

3. Attracting investors and participants
in energy efficiency programs from private businesses and industries is
paramount to establishing an energy policy in Nevada consistent with Nevada’s energy
goals for the 21st century; and

4. The efficient use of energy frees
public and private money for use in other areas such as education,
infrastructure, public health and public safety.

(a) The development, viability, expansion and
implementation of energy efficiency programs in this State, including, without
limitation, programs for businesses and industries in this State, energy
efficiency resource standards and other energy efficiency incentive programs;
and

(b) The viability of establishing green banks and
similar entities to help finance the use and harnessing of clean energy
projects in this State, for both commercial and residential properties.

2. In carrying out the duties set forth in
this section, the Committee shall consult with and solicit input from the
following entities and interests:

(a) The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada;

(b) A utility company regulated by the Public
Utilities Commission of Nevada;

(c) The Office of Energy;

(d) A financial institution in this State that
has expertise in the financing of clean energy projects;

(e) The Office of the State Treasurer;

(f) A residential or commercial builder in this
State that has expertise in the installation and integration of clean energy
products and techniques in residential or commercial building projects;

(g) An association of residential or commercial
real estate developers;

(h) As determined appropriate by the Committee,
other persons, businesses, state agencies, entities, interests or other
organizations with expertise in matters relevant to energy efficiency programs,
including, without limitation, consumers, representatives from organizations
that promote energy efficiency and representatives from businesses and
industries that may be affected by any recommendations of the Committee; and

(i) Any other person determined appropriate by
the Committee.

3. The Committee shall study, without
limitation:

(a) The existing energy efficiency incentive
programs within this State and existing clean energy programs and financial
activities occurring within this State, including, without limitation, programs
and activities of state governmental agencies, the Public Utilities Commission
of Nevada, local governmental entities within this State, public and private
utilities serving customers in this State and other private entities and
organizations within this State.

(c) The methods of capitalization, structure,
organization and financing of green banks and similar entities that assist in
financing the production and harnessing of clean energy in the United States
and outside the United States.

(d) The sources, types and amounts of private
capital leveraged or invested in connection with green banks and similar
entities for financing clean energy.

(e) The current and potential size, in this
State, of existing and potential markets for clean energy.

(g) Potential financial instruments or services
to be used by a green bank or a similar entity for helping to finance and
harness projects in this State, including, without limitation, loans, leases,
credit enhancements, warehouses and securitization.

(h) The need for a green bank or similar entity
to finance clean energy in this State.

(i) The impact and advisability of implementing
legislation regarding energy efficiency resource standards and any other energy
efficiency incentive programs considered by the Committee.

4. The Committee may accept any gifts,
grants or donations to assist the Committee in carrying out the duties set
forth in this section.

5. If the Committee determines that a
green bank or similar entity is needed to help finance or harness projects of
clean energy in this State, the Committee shall provide recommendations
regarding:

(a) The legal steps required to create such an
entity;

(b) Capital resources that can be used to pay for
the entity;

(c) The structure and organization of the entity;

(d) The markets in this State that such an entity
should serve; and

(e) The types of financing activities the entity
should undertake.

6. On or before January 1, 2017, the
Committee shall submit a report of its findings, including, without limitation,
any recommendations for legislation, to:

(a) The Director of the Legislative Counsel
Bureau for distribution to the 79th Session of the Nevada Legislature;

Sec. 2. Administrative and technical assistance.The Office of Energy, in consultation with the
Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and with the encouraged cooperation of
various public and private utilities in this State, shall provide
administrative and technical assistance to the Committee.

Sec. 3. Definitions.As
used in this section and sections 1.5 and 2 of this act:

1. “Clean energy” includes:

(a) Energy produced from renewable resources,
including, without limitation, biomass, fuel cells, geothermal, solar,
waterpower, wind or any other source of energy that occurs naturally or is
regenerated naturally; and

(b) Energy saved as a result of the installation
and use of products or technologies that are energy efficient.

2. “Green bank” means an institution that
exists or is created to help harness or use clean energy and includes features
or properties such as, without limitation:

(a) The institution is public or quasi-public.

(b) The institution provides or helps to provide
financing that is low-cost, or long-term, or both, for projects that generate
clean energy.

(c) The leveraging of private investment by way
of the stimulating investment of public money.

(d) The reduction of market inefficiencies.

(e) Greater deployment of the use of clean
energy.

(f) Recycling of public capital, so that
investment in clean energy may increase without affecting taxpayers.

3. “Legislative Committee on Energy” or
“Committee” means the Legislative Committee on Energy created by NRS 218E.805.

4. “Office of Energy” means the Office of
Energy created within the Office of the Governor by NRS 701.150.

1. The
Legislative Committee on Public Lands shall conduct a study during the
2015-2016 interim concerning water conservation and alternative sources of
water for Nevada communities. The study must include, without limitation, a
comprehensive review of all of the following:

(a) Issues relating to water resources in this
State;

(b) Studies quantifying water use, surface water
resources and groundwater resources, including, without limitation, increased
water supply through conservation;

(c) The total consumptive use of water in this
State, calculated on the basis of gallons per capita per day;

(d) Alternative sources of water, including,
without limitation, desalination of water, interbasin transfers of groundwater,
conservation of water used for agricultural purposes, water conservation in
urban areas and cloud seeding, and the reuse of water, including, without limitation,
reclaiming wastewater, using graywater and capturing rainwater; and

(e) Efforts that may be taken by the State of
Nevada to ensure the equitable apportionment of groundwater in basins that have
boundaries which extend outside the borders of the State of Nevada.

2. In addition to any report required by NRS 218E.525, the Committee shall, on or before
February 1, 2017, submit a report of its findings and any recommendations for
legislation to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal
to the 79th Session of the Nevada Legislature.

1. As part of its review of issues related
to education during the 2015-2016 legislative interim, the Legislative
Committee on Education created by NRS 218E.605
shall consider guidelines, parameters and financial plans for mentorship
programs that are established or may be established in this State to address
issues relating to education, college and career readiness, health, criminal
justice and employment with respect to school-age children, including, without
limitation, children who are disproportionately at risk of:

(a) Being deprived of the opportunity to develop
and to maintain a competitive position in the economy;

(b) Failing to make adequate yearly progress in
school; or

(c) Entering the juvenile justice system.

2. Not later than February 6, 2017, the
Committee shall prepare and submit a written report to the Director of the
Legislative Counsel Bureau, for transmittal to the 79th Session of the Nevada
Legislature, concerning the Committee’s consideration of the matters described
in this section and any recommendations for legislation.

1. The Advisory Task Force on Educator
Professional Development is hereby created consisting of:

(a) Two members of the State Board of Education,
appointed by the President of the Board;

(b) Two members who are Senators, one of whom is
appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate and one of whom is appointed by
the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(c) Two members who are members of the Assembly,
one of whom is appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one of whom is
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly;

(d) One member who is a teacher, appointed by the
Nevada State Education Association; and

(e) One member of the Statewide Council for the
Coordination of the Regional Training Programs, appointed by the Chair of the
Council.

2. The Task Force shall study:

(a) The cost of professional development for
teachers and school administrators in this State and the use and availability
of regional training programs created pursuant to NRS 391.512;

(b) Federal funding available for the
professional development of teachers and school administrators in this State;

(c) The effectiveness of the manner in which
professional development is delivered to teachers and administrators in this
State;

(d) The standards and quality of professional
development provided to teachers and school administrators in this State;

(e) The effectiveness of the programs for
professional development provided to teachers and school administrators in this
State;

(f) Professional development for
paraprofessionals and other educational personnel; and

(g) The structure for the delivery of
professional development.

3. At the first meeting of the Task Force,
the members of the Task Force shall elect a Chair by majority vote.

4. The Task Force shall hold its first
meeting by not later than August 31, 2015, and shall meet not less than four
times before June 30, 2016.

5. A majority of the members of the Task
Force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority of
those members present at any meeting is sufficient for any official action
taken by the Task Force.

6. The Department of Education shall
provide the Task Force with such staff as is necessary for the Task Force to
carry out its duties.

7. The Legislators who are members of the
Task Force are entitled to receive the salary provided for a majority of the
members of the Legislature during the first 60 days of the preceding session
for each day’s attendance at a meeting of the Task Force the per diem allowance
provided for state officers generally, and travel expenses provided pursuant to
NRS 218A.655. Such compensation, per
diem allowances and travel expenses must be paid from the Legislative Fund.

8. While engaged in the business of the
Task Force, to the extent that money is available for that purpose, the members
of the Task Force who are not Legislators are entitled to receive the per diem
allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees
generally.

9. A member of the Task Force who is an
officer or employee of this State or a political subdivision of this State must
be relieved from his or her duties without loss of regular compensation so that
he or she may prepare for and attend meetings of the Task Force and perform any
work necessary to carry out the duties of the Task Force in the most timely
manner practicable. A state agency or political subdivision of this State shall
not require an officer or employee who is a member of the Task Force to:

(a) Make up the time the member is absent from
work to carry out his or her duties as a member of the Task Force; or

(b) Take annual leave or compensatory time for
the absence.

10. By not later than December 31, 2016,
the Task Force shall complete a final report with its findings and any
recommendations, including, without limitation, recommendations regarding
budgets, changes to regulations and legislation and the adoption of statewide
standards for professional development. The Superintendent of Public
Instruction shall assist the Task Force in preparing the final report. The
final report must be submitted to the Governor, the State Board of Education,
the Legislative Committee on Education and the Director of the Legislative
Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the next regular session of the Legislature.

1. The Legislative Commission shall
appoint a subcommittee to conduct an interim study of postacute care in this
State.

2. The subcommittee must be composed of
four Legislators as follows:

(a) One member appointed by the Majority Leader
of the Senate from the membership of the Senate Standing Committee on Health
and Human Services;

(b) One member appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate from the membership of the Senate Standing Committee on Health
and Human Services;

(c) One member appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly from the membership of the Assembly Standing Committee on Health and
Human Services; and

(d) One member appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Assembly from the membership of the Assembly Standing Committee on
Health and Human Services.

3. The study must include, without
limitation:

(a) A review and evaluation of the quality and
funding of postacute care in this State and alternatives to
institutionalization for providing such care, including home- and
community-based waiver programs;

(b) An evaluation of the cost of such
alternatives and potential savings from each alternative;

(c) Consideration of the positive and negative
effects of the various alternatives for providing postacute care services on
the quality of life of persons receiving those services in this State;

(d) A review of state and national quality
measures for postacute care required to be reported by Medicare, Medicaid and
this State; and

(e) A review of state and federal funding for
postacute care, including the funding formula used in this State.

4. Any recommended legislation proposed by
the subcommittee must be approved by a majority of the members of the
subcommittee.

5. The Legislative Commission shall submit
a report of the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to
the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the 79th
Session of the Nevada Legislature.